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deed

(dēd)

1. Something that is carried out; an act or action.

2. A usually praiseworthy act; a feat or exploit.

3. Action or performance in general: Deeds, not words, matter most.

4. Law

a. A signed, sealed, and delivered instrument.

b. An instrument conveying an interest in real property.

tr.v. deed·ed, deed·ing, deeds

To transfer by means of a deed: deeded the property to the children.

[Middle English dede, from Old English dǣd; see dhē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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